Santa Clara and Cal Poly Split Saturday Doubleheader

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Santa Clara and Cal Poly split a non-conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Bagget Stadium. The Bronco rallied from behind to win the opener, 11-8, and then fell, 13-4, in a hard-fought game two battle. The split leaves Santa Clara at 11-8, while Cal Poly has an 8-10 record.

Game 1 - Santa Clara 11, Cal Poly 8
Designated hitter Geoff Klein went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs as Santa Clara overcame a 5-0 deficit to win the opener. Second baseman Brady Fuerst went 3-for-5 with one run and two RBIs.

The Broncos were held scoreless through the fourth inning and then added on eight runs in the next three innings. Klein homered to right field to start things off in the fifth inning. Fuerst then scored on a Matt Long double down the left field line. Fuerst got on base after doubling to the same spot. The Mustangs added on a run to close out the inning, 6-2.

Santa Clara then scored four runs in the seventh inning to tie the score and take a two run lead. Conan approached the plate in a bases loaded situation. He was hit by a pitch that allowed Long to score. The tying run came from Evan LeBlanc, who scored on a fielder's choice situation, and Klein drove in the one-run lead with a single through the right side bringing home Tommy Medica. To end the scoring outburst, Alcantar reached on a throwing error by Cal Poly's Pat Pezet at second base.

However, the Mustang's tied the score again with two runs to end the seventh inning, 8-8. Yet, the Broncos had the final say in the ninth inning. Conan scored first for the Broncos on a Karcich single. The final two runs came on a Fuerst double to left center that brought home Karcich and James Heintz, who was pinch running for Klein.

Freshman Thain Simon (5-0) picked up the win in relief for Santa Clara, pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out two.

Game 2 - Cal Poly 13, Santa Clara 4
The game was tied at 2-2 when Cal Poly registered four runs in the seventh inning and then seven more in the eighth inning to win the game.

The Broncos first tied the game in the second inning on Klein's RBI single that brought home Alcantar. The score was 1-1. The Mustang's then took a one-run lead, 2-1, in the third inning. It wasn't until the fifth that the Broncos were able to knot the score again, 2-2, on a LeBlanc single to right field that allowed Patrick Glenn to score.

Santa Clara was then held scoreless for the next three innings as Cal Polly added on 11 runs. In the ninth inning, freshman Curtis Wagner made his first appearances as a Bronco. SCU was able to produce two more runs to bring their final tally to four.

Chris Morton pinch hit for Glenn and reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, which put out Thomas Dore at third base. Wagner then pinch hit for Long in a bases loaded situation and was dealt a walk, that brought home Karcich. Morton then received his first collegiate run on a sacrifice fly from LeBlanc.

Alex Rivers (1-1) suffered the loss in the second game, surrendering five runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out four.

The Broncos return to action on Tuesday, March 25 as they host the Golden Bears of Cal. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Stephen Schott Stadium.